Comments by "worn down" (@worndown8280) on "Dockworker Situation Is Getting Crazier" video.

As a former union member I can tell you there are three parties involved here, the ports, the union members and the unions. The union workers dont care if there is automation. The union does. Automation means less union workers which means less union dues.
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@sableyez These dock workers make 88k minimum starting salary. If they make an extra 50% on this contract they will be making 132k starting. If someone cant live on that they are doing it wrong. But again thats not my point. You need to look at the median age of these port workers, its in the late 40s. Most of these guys will be retiring soon. The union members wont care if they automate because they have their pension. They wont lay people off just automate as people leave. The union will care be cause going from 45k members to 40 or 35k members, due to automation, will vastly reduce the money that the union has to do political contribution with. No one wants to lose their power.
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@sableyez Thats why it will happen slow, like most union jobs. As they retire. Most of these guys are getting older, typically retire at 50 to 55ish. Average age of the members is 49. do the math.
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@sableyez You make the assumption there are younger people. have you looked at the American demographic pyramid lately? Few want to do that work now. Why do you think the men that do work there work all that overtime? Because they cant hire anyone. Either they cant pass the security clearances or they have some other issue that makes the unhireable. I get it though. thats always the union line. And I think automation in this case is dumb. Most folks dont remember a few years back when the pipeline got hacked and the east coast was out of gas for a week. Do people want that to happen to the ports too? Sometimes a job is so critical it needs to be less efficient so it can be more safe. But the reasoning behind it is different I guess.
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@HunterTN You probably put it better than I did.
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